Wastewater and Storm Water Discharges from Coal Surface Mining Activities - General Permit

Draft Permit Renewal

Ohio EPA will hold a public hearing on the draft general NPDES permit at 2 p.m. on May 4, 2016. Ohio EPA will continue to accept written comments through the close of business on May 11, 2016.

The coal surface mining general permit authorizes discharges from new and existing coal surface mines to surface waters of the State. The general permit does not cover discharges that are addressed by an effective individual NPDES permit or storm water discharges that the Director of Ohio EPA determines contribute to a violation of a water quality standard.

The coal surface mining general permit covers both wastewater from coal mining activities regulated by 40 CFR 434 and storm water regulated by 40 CFR 122.26.

Dischargers who fail to obtain or continue coverage under the coal surface mining general permit, and are not otherwise authorized by an individual NPDES permit, are in violation of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 6111.

Application for initial coverage

Each applicant seeking initial coal surface mining general permit coverage must complete and submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) application form. To obtain general permit coverage, a discharger must complete and submit an NOI application form 45 days prior to initiating activity, along with a $200 fee and map. Coverage/authorization is granted only after the applicant receives written approval from the Director of Ohio EPA.

Notice of Termination

To terminate coverage under this general permit, each individual site covered under the general permit must complete and submit a Notice of Termination (NOT) application form. Permittees should request permit coverage termination once the reclamation bond has been released by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Reporting Procedures and Form

The coal surface mining general permit, effective March 1, 2009, requires operators to use EPA reporting form EPA 4500 (previously operators used form EPA 4110) which is available electronically using our e-DMR online data reporting system -- your reports are automatically created each month and waiting on you to fill out and submit. All reports from then on will be due monthly by the 20th of each month.

Please visit our e-DMR page for guidance documents and visit the eBusiness Center (https://ebiz.epa.ohio.gov/login.jsp) to set up a personal account and obtain a PIN (i.e., your electronic signature) if you have not done so yet. Initially, you must add your facility(ies) to your account. When searching for a facility in e-DMR to obtain your reporting forms, search by Ohio EPA facility permit number (e.g., 0GM00421). Permittees, until notified otherwise, should print their EPA 4500 forms and mail a copy to ODNR - Mineral Resource Management in the manner they sent forms to ODNR previously.